Conveyer loader with diagonal belt



oct. 9, Y1945.

Filed Sept. 29. 1941 R. `Q. ARMINGTON El AL CONVEYER LOADER WITH DIAONAL BELT Fla-2 I 4 Sheeuts-Svheet 2 RAYMON'D Q 'xamffN STEWART r. ARMINGTON GEORGE E. ARMlNcroN Oct. 9, 1945.

' R. Q. ARMINGjroN Erm.

CONVEYER LOADER WITH DIAGONL BELT Filed septf 29, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ane 57 FIG-5 lFlo-6 INVENTORS RAYMOND Q. ARMINGTON STEWART F. ARMINGTON GEORGE%E. ARMINGTON BY ATTORNE 5 Oct. 9, 1945. R. Q. AMINGTQN ETAL- 2,386,187 'CONVEYER LOADER WITH DIAGONAL `BELT Filed sept. 29, 1941 4 vsheets-Smm 4 Y ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 9, 1945 l, STATES i l k2,586,187 i l l f CONVEYER LOADER WITH DIAGoNnL nrrlfj` Raymond Q. Armngton, Shaker Heights, Stewart F. lArmington, `Willoughby, 4:and `George E.

Armington, South Euclid, VOhio, assignors vto. AThe Euclid Road Machinery Company,Euclid,`

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio .I

Application September 29, 1941, Serial No. 412,762 y 1o clams. (01.371110) Vf 'lhisinvention relates to improvements in con- Yeyer"loaders, i. e., apparatus .adapted while traveling to excavate earth beneath it andto con- VeyA the earth to a' loading point outside the vehicle. 3 f

objectjof thepresent inventionV is to provide apparatusadapted to excavate av large `amount of earth per kfot-)tof vehicle traveland to converge the excavated material from a wide area to a comparatively narrow conveyor for lifting the material-upwardand to one side for loading into another vehicle, for transportation;

` Among the objects of the present invention is the provision ofa conveyor of. great capacity arranged`V in"gasfsn1all a spacejaspossible, together withn'ovel means-forfloosening dirt vor'sirnilar material -and-direeting it to `the conveyer.

"inthe-drawings, Fig. l is a top plan view ofgone form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a-front' elevation ofthe same; 'llig is a rear elevation of the same; Figi/iis aside-elevation of the same; Fig. 5 is a top plan viewof the front portion of a modified fonmoftheidevice; -Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the -sameyig '7 is a top plan view of the front portio'nkofA another modication of the device; Fig'pB Lis a fragmental side elevational view of the device of-Fig.-'7; and Fig. 9 is afragmental front elevation ofthe device of Figs. 7 and 8 with parts broken away to more clearly show the blade and moldboard construction.

^,T.he=present invention is` designed to providea vehicle'which as it moves along loosens dirt over a large erosssectional area, sayior instance of the orderof-nine feet wide and one foot' deep. This material is then concentrated at the lower end of a` conveyor and thereafter elevated by the con-` veyer tora point overhanging one side of the vehicleM/here the material may be discharged into a dumpwagon-or the like traveling alongside the excavating vehicle. The purpose of the invention isll to sexcavate the dirt from the large` cross sec-l tional :ar'ea.;..and `transfer it quickly up the con-A veyerfto 4the Waiting vehicle so that a good-sizev loadtmaybe obtained with a comparatively short traveloffxthe two vehicles.' `The invention has beenedescr-ibed'fin connection with a trailer vehole1but:it:,vvillwbe understood that many of the i ieaturesrthereofwmght be applied to a self-propelledvehicle. L n I f rlnfthe embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a main framerlasupporting all of the parts is supported by Lwheel means on the axis I I which is located a little` to the .r-earof the center of the vehicle but in suoli-a position that= the load vbefore and -behind the axis II is infcomparatively good balance so that the entire ,devicemaybe plished ,backf wardor forward somewhat after the manner of a cart; thus giving good; maneuverability in either. forward `or reversegdirection. The frame corn` prises heavy .longitudinallyextending side membersLIZ which are" hollowbeams preferablyiormed ofjchannels weldedjflange to liange A suitable number of cross Abeams areprovided as indicated` at I3, nI4, I5 and I6. Itwill be noted that beam I6 Vis. connected *to* beams j 12;` by bracketsfll so as to be-well up out of the way of theexcavated ma-l terial. A-drawbar I8 extends forwardly from' the center olf-beam VI'and is provided with a connection- I Bf for I attachment# to a pullingvehicle.

f'lhe -wheel means here shown comprises Va double wheel? assemblygl on the side nearest Vthe overhung conveyerand --mounted onaniaxlel which is supported Lb'etvvecnrone of the side framesA I2 and a frame -member 22 which extends between the crosslbeams -lvandii 5. `Thit double AWheel assembly-is not adiusta'blef (in the-'other side of the ivehicle is arsingle wheel -23which is mounted for adjustabilty in a vertical direction `so as to vary the angle of the cutting blade with-'reference to .the ground, thus permitting thevdigging of a level surface cna side hill; 1 i

'I'hemeans for thusladjustingfthe position of Wheelx23is lbestlseen in FigsLcrllandl. The axle 24,for wheelr23 ismountedinayoke L25-Which is pivotally ,connectedaat A:.26 with `beanr- I5. l The other end of the yoke is pivotallyconnected to the piston rod 2..`Ia.o f; a uid operatedhoistorhy- `draulc jack-:21, the cylinder'ofeovhch isfcon- Ileted at .28 t0 a` bracketisupported on `beam i4. ,MeanS not shown is provided'for .operating the piston ofthe jack 21 ,in .la vertical` direction thus vvarying.the position of thelaxle 24re1a.tive to theaxlef i Aand.providingthe `.desired tilting of thejfram@ a transverse-direction. i 4

. For I Supporting vthe" Cutting :,bIade 3a1.and the conveyor 3l a movable-frame is; provided; oomprisme Side push beamsfl; whichare `connected together Aat the rearendby a, `rigidhollow transversefbeam .Stand rat the forwardend bya triangular shapedhollowbeamll Vwhicli-baelzs up theoutting blade '136),' `This `movable frame is pivotally mounted onthe )main frame at .the pins 35. 'The supports forkthes'e ,pins` comprise the hollow posts/36 at the rearof '.the vehicle having lside plates "3l at their upperA ends providing the head pulley 43 and at its lower end is a tail pulley 44. Around these pulleys passes the usual endless conveyer belt supported by suitable idler rollers (not shown) along the entire length of the conveyer. At least one of they pulleys 43, 44 is adjustable longitudinally for tightening the conveyer belt. In the present instance the tail pulley 44 has its shaft 44a mounted in slots in the frame brackets a. At its upper end the conveyer is provided with a small discharge chute which aids in directing 4the discharged material into e, vehicle beneath the overhanging end of` the conveyer. Construction of this partial chute 'may be clearly understood fromy Figs. 1 and 4. It has one side wall only, which begins near the'upper end of the conveyer on that side thereof which is nearer the path of travel of the conveyer loader, and this "side wall then extends outwardly from the end of the conveyer and toward the center line of the conveyer extended. The bottom'plate of the chute is generally triangular in form, as clearly appears, having one side connected with the bottom edge ofthe above described side wall, having a second side extending across the head end of thev conveyer, and having its third side extending substantially parallel to the path of travel of the conveyor loader, as kclearly seen in Fig. 1. It results fromvthis construction that the earth discharged from the side of the conveyor which is nearer the path of width of blade 30 to a zone at the lower end of conveyer 3l. The blade 30 is preferably slightly curved as indicated best in Fig. 2 and the moldboard 42V is provided with the necessary warped surfaces to direct the loosened dirt upwardly at a fairly steep angle,4 say approximately 45 to the conveyer belt and with the necessary lateral movement at the points 42a. and 42b so that all of the dirt from the full width of the excavating blade converges to a relatively limited zone near the tail pulley of the conveyer. One of the ade vantages of thediagonal arrangement of the conveyer relative to the main frame is that it gives more available-area at the lower end of the conveyer crosswise of the main frame and positioned to receive the material from the blade 30 with the minimum of travel. At the same time the angle of vertical-inclination of the conveyer is fixed by the safe angle at which the dirt may be conveyed without rolling back'down the conveyer. Therefore the diagonal arrangement gives the shortest conveyer for achieving the desired maximum heightat the' head puiieyta whne keeping the vehicle. This arrangement is the best possible one for getting dirt excavated by a wide blade to the lower end of the conveyer with the minimum travel of the dirt over the moldboards.

Means is provided for raising and lowering the movable frame about the pivots 35 so. as to control the cutting blade 30. Obviously the moldboardand the conveyer move with the cutting blade .as the movable frame is oscillated. The means for controlling the elevation of the blade comprises a power cylinder and piston motor such as the hydraulic jack 46 having its cylinder pivotally mounted at 41 on a bracket connected with the drawbar I8 and having its piston rod 46a connected tothe crank arm 48 which is rigidly connected with the blade control yoke 49. This yoke comprises a crossbar in the form of a cylindrical tube 49a having rigidly connected to its opposite ends the arms 49h which are pivoted at 49e to brackets on the beam I6. The outer end of each arm 49h is connected by a lift link 50 with one of the vertical side plates 42e of the moldboard. r

Thus the operation of the jack 46 by means not shown will raise and lower Vthe blade 30 relative to the main frame of the trailer vehicle.

Drive means for the conveyeras well as pressure fluid for operation of jacks 21 and 46 may be provided on the trailer vehicle itself. In the present instance an internal combustion engine 5l is mounted on beams 52 which are lsupported between beams I3 and [4. This Vengine drives a shaft 53 which 'through bevel gearing 54 drives shaft 55 which in turn through gearing in housing 56 rotates the head pulley 43. The engine also drivesA a suitable compressor or pump to provide the pressure fluid Vfor the jacks 21 and 4B. The details of this construction form nopart of the present invention and therefore need not be further described.

The second modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 was designed for the same purpose as the rst Vform but with the added advantage of shortening the travel of the dirt excavated toward the sides of the cutting blade to the conveyerA belt. Since the design 'of this second form is like that of the first form except as regards the moldboard means, similar parts have been given similar reference characters and'will notbe further described here. Y j

Substantially centrally Vof the front; end of the vehicle and directly in fron-t of the lowergend of the conveyer is la cutting vblade 51. This blade as shown isV approximately one-third the total width of the cutting blade means butneed not necessarily be limited to ,thatexactdimension A moldbo-ard 58 conducts the material cut by this blade directly to the lowerend of'the conveyer 3|. Two other blades 59 and60 areA located one f on eachside of the blade 51 and oiset therefrom in a fore and aft direction. Ashere shown these blades are rearwardly 'of blade 51 so as to cut down the necessary travel of the dirt along the moldboards 6| and (i2r respectively, which discharge on the conveyer 3l above the point where the dirt from vblade 51 drops onto the conveyer. Suitable warped surfaces'are provided at the points Bla and 62a` to give the necessary lateral movement of the dirt onto the. conveyer. Vertical side boards 6Ib and 62h connel the dirt on the` moldboards 'and serve as connecting points for the links 50. Preferably Aother vertical dividing boards 63 are provided .between moldboards 58, 6| and 62 so as to direct the dirt in three substantially parallel streams rearwardly for the first portion of its course.

1iAtthirdmojdiiication.isa shown iirr-liifgs. 31:, Brand here, fthe parts .are again generallyssimilar to those Valready rdescribed yin` connection with the. rstrnodieation and. therefore .only theidifierences need bedescribed here. .One change has .been` made in the.. frame wherein .the 1 sideY frame members l2 :have upwardly'. inclined i rigid for- .ward pmtions4 l Tia extending; upto. the crossfbeam IGC towhichizthe drawbar I8 is attadhed, .This

gives a stronger construction f tban that.. Vshown in. the, .lirst described ,formrandfgvesgreater clearance oven the,cuttingblades.. i`

. Here. a cutting blade; Ell; is; arranged centrally of .the forward -enduof .thevehicleand directly in front of the conveyer 3|. Atgsholtmoldboard 65 :directs :,'excavated .rnateriarto .the lower.` end `@of the,conveyor Wing:` bladesl and .f'l are. prof Nided one on;` each :side of andraheadofitlieiblade B4.' .These wing blades areinclinedlinwardly,and

rearwardly. so as f to .directf earth. excavated l ching, and reinforcingplatesf arewsecured` horizontally between plates V68. andplatesxdand 61d respectively; so l. as tos-.provide a stronger construction atthisrpoint if y i `Similar means is-,providedffor, controlling the height oftheV cuttingblades `relativezto themain frame "ofthe vehicle. A- jack .46. supported-'by drawbar Iahas its piston rod connectedtorthe `lift yoke dswhich `iswconnected by linksillf Vvt the vertical side boards BEa-,and'ld y Whatwe claimis:

l; Earthihandli'ng I apparatus comprising a frame, wheel means'. supporting said frame for travel in a` path-an inclined endless belt conveyer mounted on said frame, said conveyer having its lower end near the ground near the forward end of said frame, a scraper blade located at the forward end of said frame ahead of said conveyer, a scraper blade laterally at one side of and to the rear of said nrst named blade, both of said blades being adapted to enter the ground, and moldboard means adapted to receive earth from both of said blades and to conduct and direct the same to a zone near vthe lower end of said conveyer.

2. Earth handling apparatus comprising a frame, wheel means supporting said frame for travel in a path, an inclined endless belt conveyer diagonally mounted on said frame at an angle to said path of travel, said conveyor having its lower end near the ground near the forward end of said frame, said conveyer having its upper end overhanging one side of said frame near its rear end sufliciently to discharge conveyed material into a vehicle alongside said apparatus, scraper blade means located at the forward end of said frame ahead of saidconveyer and adapted to enter the ground, saidblade means including non-alined blades spaced one ahead of the other and laterally oiset from each other, and moldboard means adapted to receive earth from said blades and to conduct the same to a .zonenear the -lowervendcofz saidxoon- Earth .financing apparatus comprising is 'frame I wheelrimeans SupbOrtinasaid frame -ror travel in a nath, lan nclinedfendlessobelt conveyer diagonally i :mounted on rsaid J frame .at an .angle to ,said path ofltravel; .said ,conveyer having its lower end;Y near the; ground. near ,the 2 forward `end-of said frame, said conveyenhaving its upper end; overhanginatone side nfl` .said frame. near its .rear `end sufficiently `to dischargeJ conveyedimaterial :into a "vehicle/:alongside:said apparatus, scraper blademeans locatedlat ,the forward end ofzsaid frame` ahead .of said-conveyor and-...adapted to enter the-ground, isaid` blade zmeans i including `a A central blade extending transversely of :said path o f travel .and a4 blade `on, `each i side. of.- .said

Acentral ,bladaand `rearwardlytlfiereoiiandmolde board `meansfadapted to receive uearth fromrsaid blades and .,to. conductthensame to; .a zone `near the lowerendof said .conveyer` i 1 1 4; Earth iihandlingl. apparatus comprising. ita frame, wheel A.means supporting. :said lframe for travel in a path, an inclined endless. belttoonveyermounted on said frame, said conveyer ha-vingnits lowerend near the `grou-ndnear: the forward end ,of saidframe, `a scraper. blade. located` at theforward `end .of said; frame; ahead of .saidconveyon a scraper bladelaterally at one side. of; and. extending forwardly of ,said-:first named blade," said second named blade being inclined.. rearwardly toward said first namedahladeto direotearthloxcavated bysaidsecond named blade generallyitoward said conveyor,` :both of 4said .blades 1 being adapted to enter -ithe ground, .1 and :moldboard means adapted tos receive Learth from: both of .said

blades and .toconduct land. direct the same .to a

40 frame, Wheel f means supporting .l said :trainerA for .flower end near the ground-nearuthe forwardend ofisaid framala scraper bladelocatedfat the forward end :ofssaid i frame ahead. of said. conveyer, twoscraper blades 1ocated.:forwardly of said first named .blade one vat eachlside thereof, each of said two last named blades being inclined rearwardly toward said rst named blade to direct earth eX- cavated by said last named .blades generally toward said -conveyer, all of said blades being adapted to enter the ground, and moldboard means adapted to receive earth from all of said blades and to conduct the same to a zone near the lower end of said conveyer.

6. Earthhandling apparatus comprising a frame, wheel means supporting said frame for travel in a path, an inclined endless belt conveyei mounted on said frame, said conveyer having its lower end near the ground near the forward end of said frame, a scraper blade located at the forward end of said frame ahead of said conveyer, two scraper blades located forwardly of said rst named blade one at eaohside thereof, each of said two last named'blades being inclined rearwardly `toward said rst named blade to direct earth excavated by said last named blades to a zone in front of said first named blade, and moldboard means between said first named blade and the lower end of said conveyer.

7. Earth handling apparatus comprising a frame, drawbar means at the front end of said' frame whereby said apparatus may be pulled along -a path, an inclined conveyer diagonally mounted on said frame at an angle to said path ofV travel, said conveyer having its lower end near the ground and nearer one side of said frame near theforward end of said frame, said conveyer havin'g its upper end overhanging the other side of said frame near the rear en'd thereof and high enough to discharge earth into a vehiclel alongside said frame, scraper blade means wider than said conveyer located at the forward end of said frame head of said conveyer and adapted to enter the ground, moldboard means adapted to receive earth from said entire blade means and to conduct and direct the same to a zone near the lower` end of said conveyer, coaxial wheel `means spaced transversely across said frame nearer the center than to either end thereof, said wheel means constituting the soleA support for said frameY other than said .drawbar means, so that said apparatus maybe rapidly moved backward and forward like a cart while loading a. vehicle drawnv alongside under the discharge end 0f said conveyer.

8. Earth handling apparatus provided with wheel means for travel in a path and comprising an inclined conveyer mounted at an angle to said path of travel, said conveyer having its lowerend near Vthe ground, said conveyer having its upper end located at one side of said path and high enough to discharge earth into a vehicle traveling parallel to said path, earth excavating means ahead of said conveyer and adapted to load loosened earth on the lower end of said 'conveyen and I a partial chute immediately in rear of the upper end of said conveyer and on that side nearer said path only, said chute having one side wall only and a bottom, said side wall beginning near the upper end of said conveyer on the side there- 'f of nearer said path and then extending'outwardly and toward the center line of said conveyer extended, whereby the earth discharged from the Side of said'conveyer nearer said path is diverted into the earth discharged fromthe other side of said conveyer to form a concentrated stream without clogging of the chute. s

9. Earth handling apparatus comprising va frame, wheel means supporting said frame for travel in a path, an inclined conveyer diagonally mounted on said frame at an angle to said path of travel, said conveyer having its lower end near the ground 'and nearer one side of said frame near its forward end, said conveyer having its upper end overhanging the other side of said frame and high enough to discharge earth into a vehicle alongside said frame, scraper blade means Wider than said conveyer located at the forward end of said frame ahead of said conveyer and adapted to enter the ground, and moldboard means adapted to receive earthfrom said entire blade means and to conduct and direct thesame to a zone near the lower end of said conveyer, said .blade means extending entirely in iront of said wheel means so that'when said apparatus is travelling forward said wheel means'travels solely on ground cut by said blade means. Y

l0. Earth handling apparatus comprising a frame, drawbar means at the front end of said frame whereby said apparatus may be pulled along av path, an' inclined conveyer diagonally mounted on said frame at an angle to said path of travel, said conveyer having its lower end near the ground and nearer one side of said frame near the forward end of said frame, said conveyer having its upper end overhanging the other side of said frame near the rear end thereof and high enough todischarge earth into a vehicle alongside frame, scraper blade means wider than said conveyer located at the forward end of said frame ahead of said conveyer and adapted to enter the ground, moldboard means adapted `to receive earth lfrom said entire'blade means and to conduct and direct the same to a zone near the lower end of said conveyor, coaxial wheel means spaced transversely across said frame nearer the center than to either end thereof, said wheel means constituting the sole support for said frame other 

